Matt Smith Just Dropped a Major House of the Dragon Season 3 Update

Matt Smith just did the classic press-tour slip: he casually told daytime TV when House of the Dragon is back. No teaser. No poster. Just a date window dropped between small talk and a haircut update. I respect it.

'So that comes out in, I think, in August next year.'

Translation: pencil in late summer for Season 3. That lines up with HBO having two other Thrones spinoffs set for 2026, with this one landing in the back half. Also worth noting: in October, Redanian Intelligence said cameras had stopped rolling and the show was moving into post, which makes an August window feel about right for a series this VFX-heavy.

What Season 3 is teeing up

• We open big: one of Westeros' nastiest, bloodiest naval clashes is on deck.
• The Blacks have momentum after recruiting fresh dragonriders. Meanwhile, the Greens have been shoring up support thanks to Tyland Lannister working the alliances game.
• Yes, Daeron Targaryen finally turns up, and he brings Tessarion with him.
• The Battle of the Gullet is the centerpiece: Corlys Velaryon's fleet vs the Triarchy. If the show tracks George R.R. Martin's 'Fire & Blood' here, brace yourself for a major character death via crossbow.
• Season 2's finale ended with Larys Strong smuggling King Aegon out of the capital. In the book, that path leads Aegon to Dragonstone while Rhaenyra takes King's Landing.
• But because the show has already remixed the text in a few places, don't carve that into stone. A lot of fans expect this stretch to build toward the Battle Above the Gods Eye — the Daemon vs Aemond showdown — but it's hard to say exactly how much ground Season 3 will cover.

Meanwhile, Matt Smith went full villain in a galaxy far, far away

In the same interview, Smith mentioned he just wrapped Shawn Levy's 'Star Wars: Starfighter', where he and Mia Goth are playing the bad guys. Roles are under wraps, but the fresh haircut is apparently a byproduct of that shoot. Fun bit of history: Smith almost joined the franchise once before — he was set for 'The Rise of Skywalker' back in 2019, but script changes wiped out the part. This new movie is aiming for a 2027 theatrical release.

The quick stats

Showrunner: Ryan Condal

Based on: George R.R. Martin's 'Fire & Blood'

Rotten Tomatoes: 87%

Where to watch: House of the Dragon is streaming on HBO Max

What are you most hoping to see in Season 3? Call your shots in the comments — battles, betrayals, dragon mayhem, all of it.